The Longest Full 'Blood Moon' Of The Century Is Happening This Month

Space enthusiasts in certain regions of the world will get free seats to a potentially once-in-a-lifetime event on the celestial stage later this month.

On July 27, lucky stargazers will see the longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century ― also known as a blood moon. The nearly two-hour total eclipse will be visible to people in parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, according to NASA.

Blood moons are not unusual occurrences. Still, these dramatic celestial events have inspired both awe and alarm throughout the centuries ― including among some fringe segments of American Christianity that take the appearance of blood moons to be a sign that the apocalypse is drawing nearer.

NASA
An illustration of the stages of the July 27, 2018, total lunar eclipse.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the Earth’s shadow and takes on a reddish glow, earning it the nickname “blood moon.” A total lunar eclipse takes a few hours to unfold and is particularly dramatic. It happens when the sun, Earth, and moon are perfectly lined up, which means the Earth’s shadow completely covers the moon. This moment of total obscuration is called a totality.

What’s particularly remarkable about this month’s lunar eclipse is how long its totality phase will last. NASA estimates the moon will be completely obscured for 1 hour and 43 minutes. The organization has published a list predicting the date and length of all lunar eclipses until 2100, and it doesn’t expect another totality as long as this one within the century.

A shorter total lunar eclipse occurred on January 31 this year. Another one is expected on Jan. 19, 2019, and will be visible from North and South America, Europe and Africa. NASA predicts there will be 85 total lunar eclipses between the years 2001 and 2100.

NASA
This illustration from NASA shows where in the world the July 27, 2018, eclipse will be visible.

The biblical basis for blood moon prophecies is often traced to Joel 2:31, a Bible verse that predicts, “The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.”

Paul Begley, a Baptist pastor from Indiana with a significant following on YouTube, told his followers in a recent video that he doesn’t believe July 27 will be the end of the world. Still, he said the upcoming blood moon could be a sign that “these are the last days.”

Craig Keener, a New Testament professor at Asbury Theological Seminary, told HuffPost he believes most biblical scholars would be uncomfortable with ascribing theological significance to blood moons. In his view, it’s more of a popular-level phenomenon than something that is taught from pulpits. In fact, he says, scripture “strongly prohibits” this kind of divination.

“One would think that after a few blood moons and lunar eclipses in history, people would recognize that such an event does not by itself mean that the end is coming. Jesus himself warned against setting dates for the end, noting that the day and hour are unknown,” Keener wrote in an email.

“Personally, as a Christian, I’m glad that some people are eager for Jesus’s return. But Christians should nurture that expectation without needing to look to blood moons and the like.”